As the indications for total hip arthroplasty (THA) have expanded, this procedure is being increasingly performed in young patients. Oftentimes, this population has undergone one or more salvage procedures in an attempt to delay or forestall a THA. However, it is unclear whether patients with prior salvage procedure have higher risk of adverse events.
From 2004 to 2014, 215 THAs performed in patients less than 30 years at a single institution were identified. These patients were screened to identify 37 THAs in which one or more salvage procedures were performed prior to the THA (salvage group). The prior salvage procedures were open in 30 (pelvic osteotomy = 5, femoral osteotomy = 15, combined osteotomy = 2, core decompression = 7, bone graft = 1) and arthroscopic in 7. Medical and surgical complications within 90 days and overall survivorship at a minimum follow-up of 2 years were recorded. Nonparametric tests and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to compare the groups.
Salvage group had a higher rate of wound complications (P = .037), superficial infections (P = .005), and reoperations (P = .015). The 5-year survivorships in the salvage and nonsalvage groups were 97.1% and 96.7%, respectively (P = .787).
Patients less than 30 years who undergo THA after a previous salvage procedure have a higher risk of wound complications, superficial infections, and reoperations, but similar survivorship, compared to those who did not have any prior salvage procedures. This information is helpful in counseling young patients while offering various surgical options for the management of various hip pathologies.